HAVE NO FEAR…

THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS PETER & PAUL

Acts 28:11-16,30-31

11 After three months we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the Twin Brothers as figurehead.12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.
13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium; and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.14 There we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.15 And the brethren there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them Paul thanked God and took courage.16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.

30 And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered.

Matthew 14:22-33

22 Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
24 but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them.25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus;
30 but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?”32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  

MEDITATION

St LUKE CATALOGUE  PAULS penultimate voyage to Rome where he was to stand trail. Luke describe the two carved images on the boat,a “figurehead” that is a symbol of someone or something that is subordinate. He also records the changing weather patterns that on the one hand hampered as well as expedited  their journey. 
The discovery of brethren who provided accommodation and journeyed with Paul was a source of hope in the midst of what appears to be a somber voyage. Properly understood, this voyage is Paul’s final ‘long sleep’ to the Father.

THE GOSPEL READING: The disciples are left to their own devices to navigate their way to their next destination.Daylight symbolize hope whereas darkness or night symbolize death however it is also a time of rest and a state of renewal. In the midst of the prevailing inclement weather the Apostles found themselves in treacherous conditions when a ‘gostly’ figure appeared on the stormy waters. Peter the skipper, recognized the image of Christ that led him to abandon the ship and make his way to Christ his Saviour!

We should not allow conditions that spell darkness to redirect our journey such that our salvation may be shipwrecked. Let us recognize and invite the light of Christ into our lives and step away; abandon situations and rhetoric that stoke fear and anxiety! Moreover we need to reach out and journey with fellow sisters, brothers and strangers who are in distress and darkness and be sources of courage and hope. Christ shall turn our situations of apparent darkness into light as we fearlessly and prayerfully hold onto the rudder of mercy, grace, hope and deliverance!

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LET US PRAY:Psalms 98:1-6

O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2 The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.

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